SOURCE: "Préface à mon fils: The Preface of Michael Nostradamus to His Prophecies," in Oracles of Nostradamus by Charles A. Ward, Modern Library, 1940, pp. 39-49.

In the following excerpt, Nostradamus justifies and explains the intent of his prophecies. As editor Charles A. Ward indicates, this preface, dedicated to his newborn son, was originally published in 1555, and was intended as "a dedication to [Nostradamus's spiritual sons; that is, to his interpreters and students in all future ages." (Bracketed material within the text was inserted by Ward.)]

Although for years past I have predicted, a long time in advance, what has afterwards come to pass, and in particular regions attributing the whole accomplishment to divine power and inspiration, also other unfortunate and fortunate occurrences have been pronounced with accelerated promptitude which have since happened in other parts of the world, —for I was willing to maintain silence and to pass...